Renewable & Nuclear

Our understanding of cost, procurement, longer and larger construction programmes, project control and governance to infrastructure projects place us at the front of this lower cost lower carbon sector. We consider ourselves in a unique position to rise to these challenges.

Our understanding of carbon and ways to assess cap Carbon and op Carbon allows us to consider carbon in our engineering, design and whole of project life considerations rather than just focussing on capturing it. Alongside this, our understanding of how we must train for the new lower carbon economy and ways to consider future climate change upon our infrastructure projects is a key consideration.

Wind

Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue rising with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change. Wave, tidal and solar energy are now fast gaining momentum through research and technological advances.

In addition, the number of people in the world and the amount of energy used by each individual are both increasing. Although we may slow the rate of increase of energy usage by more efficient use and reduced wastage, we cannot stop it.

Meeting even the world’s present energy needs, let alone those of future generations, is having disastrous consequences for the environment. Clearly, in the future we must do things differently, perhaps using energy sources such as renewables detailed above.

Nuclear

Nuclear power is a proven form of electricity generation worldwide. Nuclear supplies 16% of the world’s electricity. There are currently over 440 commercial nuclear reactors operating in 30 countries, with a further 65 under construction. Nuclear energy currently supplies around 16.5% of the UK’s electricity. Nuclear energy has supplied up to a third of the country’s electricity safely and reliably since 1956. The UK industry, with 18 reactors on 9 sites, currently supplies nearly a sixth of the country’s electricity. The world has changed dramatically over the last few years The importance of climate change to policy thinking has increased. Security of supply concerns have grown and energy prices across the board have risen sharply, pushed up by global oil and gas prices. In the UK, carbon dioxide emissions have started to fall but remain high by international standards, and progress on energy efficiency and renewables uptake has been disappointing. North Sea oil and gas resources are running out faster than expected.

Carbon Capture

In the mean time we have little alternative but to continue burning fossil fuels whilst striving to minimise environmental impacts. Achieving this demands the capture of greenhouse gases where they are generated and not discharging them to the atmosphere. Once captured, they must then be stored securely for many thousands of years. This process is known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

The Energy sector has already taken great steps in developing technologies to ensure CCS can be a safe and effective avenue towards reconciling energy and environmental needs and we are proud to be part of that market.

Energy Production

Methods of energy production also face scrutiny to produce energy in a cleaner and more environmentally acceptable manner. The debate on how to deliver green or renewable heat to homes is picking up momentum and the potential for renewable gas to contribute to the low carbon economy is being recognised. Renewable gas (also referred to as methane-based gas or bio methane) can be produced from organic waste and injected into the gas grid and will therefore contribute to decarbonising (lowering CO2 emissions) energy supplies for heat

Waste

The UK produces almost 400 million tonnes of waste per year. A third of this waste comprises construction, demolition and excavation waste, and wastage allowances represent over £1.5 billion value of construction materials in the UK alone. Ways must be found to reduce this level of waste as the production, transportation and disposal activities are all contributing to an increased carbon world.

Gas Supply

Finally certainty of gas supply is becoming more and more important with gas productions becoming more and more restricted to a smaller number of countries. With this in mind, a number of countries are increasing their storage capacity to extend their period of gas supply storage.

Water

Climate change is the biggest threat to the sustainability of water services. Water company operations and assets are among the most vulnerable to a more volatile climate and are already feeling the pressure. More frequent droughts, more intense rainfall and flooding are all going to influence investment planning for all aspects of water services

Our understanding of cost, procurement, longer and larger construction programmes, project control and governance to infrastructure projects place us at the front of this lower cost lower carbon sector.…